Sheet metal product



March 3o, 1937. s. F. JAckEs SHEET METAL PRODUCT 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

Filed NOV. 5, 1934 Ma'rch 30, 1937. s. F. JAcKEs SHEET METAL PRODUCT Filed NOV. 5, 1954 4 Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES snEE'r METAL rnonucr stanley F. Jannes, University city, Mo., assignmto .Faches-Evans Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation 'oi' Missouri Application November 3, 193.4, Serial No. 751,326

8 Claims.

This invention relates to the method of, and apparatus for forming sheet metal, including the product thereof, and with regard to certain more specic features, to the 'provision of an -im- .proved finish on such metal.

. Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a new and improved sheet metall product having a decoratively deformed surface which gives the appearance of 10 having a crinkled coated nish, Without the disadvantages of a coated finish in applying the product to hot locations such as in stove pipe, stoves, etc.; the provision of a product of this class in whichl the deformations on the sheet 15 metal surface have the'improved form and approvision of a surface which will not show irregu-v larities or imperfections in color or form of the sheet on which the surface exists; and the provisionvof a novel method and apparatus for ef-v f ecting said result. Other objects will vbe in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which Vwill be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

' In the accompanying'drawings, in which Ais illustrated one of va'rious possible embodiments of the invention, e

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating the steps in the process;

y Fig'. 2 is a bottom plan view taken on line 2-2 of F'ig. l1,'showing a reciprocating die; A

Fig. 3 is a top plan view` taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing a stationary die; 40 Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail plan view of a representative portion of one form'of the product;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail plan view of another form of the product;

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and,

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 5.

Similar reference characters indicate corre-` of suitable gauge. At numeral l is indicatedJ a pair of draw rolls for drawing the strip steel from the reel I and delivering it to the apparatus to be described." Continuous motion of the draw rolls is proper, as will appear, but intermittent motion may be eected, if desired.

At numeral 5 is shown a relatively stationary 5 die block'having recesses 'i formed therein adapted to receiv'e balls 9 6r the like. The configuration n of thecongerie of recesses 1 and the correspondlng recessed balls is shown in Fig. 3, wherein it will be noted that an irregular relationship is ef-` 10 fected between balls. For best results, the balls should not be regularly patterned..

At numeral I I is shown a reciprocating die block which is adapted to be fastened to the cross-head l of an ordinary press, it being understood that 15 the relatively stationary block 5 is located on a. lower relatively stationary part ofthe press. The block II, being fastenedl to said cross-head of the press, is adapted to be reciprocated back (and forth,l to and from the block 5. 20

On the bottom face of the block II is cemented a resilient layer of material, preferably a rubber pad I5. It will be understood that the resiliency of this material I5 should be enough to permit it to'assume-the` general form of the tops of the balls, behind the strip of steel I3, as the latter is pressed against the balls, the strip I3 also assuming the general partially spherical shapes of theupperv parts of the balls.

- Fromv the die blocks 5 and Il, the material I3 30 passes to" pressure rolls 2 which tend to flatten out theimpressions left upon the strip by the 'action of the die blocks and II.

The method of operation ofthe apparatus is as follows? j i As the draw rolls 3 deliver the strip steel between the die blocks and II, said block II reciprocates and causes a given area of the strip to be forced against the ball 9 by means of the resilient rubber pad I5. The rubber is hard 40 enough that the strip is forced to assume an indented form in which each indentation has roughly the partial spherical shape of a ball. On the other hand, the resiliency of the rubber is such that the effect hereinafter described` may 45 be accomplished. For thicker gauges of material the hardness of the rubber is increased but substantial resiliency is always provided.

While the b lock I I is in downward position, the `strip of coursecannot creep forwardly. However,

the feed rolls), iiA operating continuously, continue to feed the strip'and there is therefore formed an arch at IIl which takes up the slack strip until the block II again draws oi, permitting the arch to spring out into straight form and thus feed the strip forwardly. If the rolls 3 operate intermittently they are timed with the reciprocating action of die Il. They st'op when the die I I has descended and move when it draws loi. g

After advance of the strip, the block Il again descends, and the material is provided with a second set of impressions. The advance of the strip Vi3 is not equal to the width across the l blocks 5 and Il each time that the block Ii reciprocates, but is only a small fraction thereof.

E Thus, the balls are pressed a second time into and partially adjacent to an already indented area. Thus various shapes of indentations are effected. The provision of the resilient rubber facing on the die block Il, in view of a certain looseness of the balls 9 in their sockets, provides an element of indeterminacy in the manner in which the balls will be pressed into the material upon successive impressions. They will not provide a definitely repeating pattern which is what is'desired herein. It will be clear that if the block li -does not have the resilient pad but is provided with recesses corresponding to the balls9, that an undesirable repeating pattern may be formed. After the strip leaves the blocks 5 and il, it advances to the pressure rolls 2 which tend to flatten out the indentations but do not do so entirely. This step in the process provides the indentations with relatively fiat bottoms, with or without interior raised cones or elevations, the vlatter feature depending upon the initial depth of indentation provided by the dies, as will ap-.. pear. Thus the eifect of the treatment is to provide a sheet having more or less'irregular indentations -2i of `crater-like form, each with or without a small conical raised portion of irregular form or forms 23 in each crater. The crater effect with 40 the raised cones 23 therein is emphasized as the blow delivered by the block Il ,is increased in force, thatis, as the initial indentations are increased in depth. In Fig. 4 is illustrated the final appearance of the material after the block I I has struck relatively hard blows and the pressure rolls have flattened the areas 25 between final impressions as well as reversed the interiors of the indentations 2l to become raised as at 23.

If it is desired to reduce-the eifect of the conical shapes 23 within the craters 2 i this is done by lightening the blow delivered by the block Il (by adjusting the stroke of the press). The result is a surface such as illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein few or no interior raised portions within the recesses result from rerolling although the flat portions 25 surrounding the craters 2i remain. l

It will be seen that the sheet is initially provided with partially spherical indentures 29 between which are cusped portions 21 (Fig. 1). The cusped portions 21 when rolled, form atsbetween the indentures and rolling causes the indentures to become the more or less fiat bottomed craters 2| (see Fig. 5). If the formation of the 1 indentures is made initially deep, as by a strong die blow, then subsequent rolling effects a reversal of curvature. at the deepest parts of the indentures 2| to form raised portions or mounts 23 within the indentures (see Fig. 4). V

It will be understood that by adjusting of depth of the original indentations, 'between the depth required for the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, andthat shown in Fig. 5, finishes will be obtained with raised portions in some of the indentations ana others may not have raised portions, depending upon the indeterminate action of the apparatus. It is considered that such a finish is also new and lnovel.

It will be understood that other forms may be substituted'for the balls 8 and that resilient material other than lrubber may be used for the pad l5. It is also to be understood that the balls are relatively free in their sockets so that the indeterminacy principle is fully taken advantage of. That is to say, as each ball is capable of moving somewhat, its actions, under successive reciprocations of the upper die, therefore will not be the same with respect to the other balls. The other balls also inthe meantime have moved.

It will be seen that the invention provides a convenient method for providing a non-repeating finish or pattern on sheet metal, the same being adapted to be changed in general characteristics, as desired.. Opposite faces ofthe sheet correspond in shape but are of obverse form. At the same time, the apparatus is relatively simple' to make and operate. The resulting surface does not show imperfections which may exist in the sheet, as does the ordinary sheet iron surface.

In view oi.'- the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. The product comprising a metal sheet, irregularly spaced recesses therein, relatively ilat portions between said recesses, and conical raised portions Within the recesses.

2. The product comprising a metal sheet, irregularly spaced and partially spherical recesses therein, relatively fiat portions between said recesses, and conical raisedportions within Athe recesses. t

3. The product comprisfifiig a metal sheet, ir-` regularly spaced recesses l'therein having rela-l tively iat bottoms, relatively flat portions be-v tween saidrcesses, and conical raised portions within the recesses and extending from said bottoms.

4. The product comprising a meta'hscheet, ir-` r regularly spaced partially spherical i-.recesses therein having relatively fiat bottoms, relatively at portions between said recesses, and conical raised portions within the recesses and extending from said bottoms. e'

5. The product comprising'a sheet, spaced recesses therein, connecting portions between said recesses, and raised portions within at least some ofthe recesses.

6. The product comprising a sheet, irregularly spaced recesses therein, relativelyfiat portions between said recesses, and raised portions within at least some of the recesses.

7. The product comprising a sheet, spaced recesses therein of irregular form, connecting portions between said recesses, and raised portionsthe recesses.

- STANLEY FJ JACKES. 

